Temporary Access Codes

ZOS_JessicaFolsom

With patch 1.0.2 we have taken steps to further strengthen game account security. Yesterday, we updated the temporary access code you are required to enter if you are trying to access the game from an untrusted device or via a new IP address. We are rolling out these changes in small waves—this began yesterday and will continue throughout the day.

Unless you were already asked to enter a new access code yesterday, when you log into the game today, you may get a prompt to enter a temporary access code. Please keep an eye on your inbox for the access code (don’t forget to check your spam folder) and enter it into the “Access Code” pop-up box.

Also, please be aware that these temporary access codes expire after 10 minutes. If you are accidentally blocked out of your account due to entering an expired access code, please wait 10 minutes and try again. You will be emailed a new access code.

Thank you for your patience as we continue to improve account security measures—this is something we will continue to do over time. If you encounter any issues with the access code or your account or get locked out of your account, please try the troubleshooting steps in this article and contact our Support Team for assistance if troubleshooting does not help.

tdirks23325b14_ESO

im not receiving anything in my mailbox. is this another way to keep out of the game? alots been going on with this game and its getting fustrating

elderscrollsb16_ESO109

Hi Jessica,
I understand why security measures like the temporary access code are needed.
However I think we are many that do not understand why we must authorize a computer that has already been authorized in the past.

Also is this method related to public IP address use ? I don't knwo how it goes in US, but there's still many people with dynamic IP address assigned by ISP and for which the IP address will change every day.
Can you clarify on this ?

jamesharv2005ub17_ESO

When you have a dynamic IP that doesnt mean your IP changes daily. I have had the same IP for months and had it change weekly. It depends how the DCHP server at the ISP is configured.

FrauPerchta

Using the same computer on the same ISP I did in last two beta plus the 5 day early access. Today I get blocked from logging in unless I entered the emailed code. This will hopefully not be an EOS habit because it's annoying as .... and I don't play online games to be annoyed

jamesharv2005ub17_ESO

FrauPerchta wrote: »

Using the same computer on the same ISP I did in last two beta plus the 5 day early access. Today I get blocked from logging in unless I entered the emailed code. This will hopefully not be an EOS habit because it's annoying as .... and I don't play online games to be annoyed

And you know for a fact your IP hasnt changed in all this time?

felixgamingx1

I use the same IP every time and I've been prompted to enter these codes in 3 different occasions.

jamesharv2005ub17_ESO

felixgamingx1 wrote: »

I use the same IP every time and I've been prompted to enter these codes in 3 different occasions.

I dont understand how you say you can "use the same ip". Your ISP configures your IP.

Ran_some

felixgamingx1 wrote: »

I use the same IP every time and I've been prompted to enter these codes in 3 different occasions.

If you're behind a router (as most home setups are), then your router gets the public address from your ISP. That will change when your DHCP IP lease expires and it gives your router a new IP. Your computer (and any other device behind your router) may very well be given a private IP that you may keep for a very long time. Is it possible this is what is occurring?

Moonraker

Ran_some wrote: »

felixgamingx1 wrote: »

I use the same IP every time and I've been prompted to enter these codes in 3 different occasions.

If you're behind a router (as most home setups are), then your router gets the public address from your ISP. That will change when your DHCP IP lease expires and it gives your router a new IP. Your computer (and any other device behind your router) may very well be given a private IP that you may keep for a very long time. Is it possible this is what is occurring?

Also resets when you reboot the router or there's a power cut.

wookiekrisps

I dont have a problem with increased security, I have a problem with the email taking longer than 10min to get to me with a 10min duration of code validity.

elderscrollsonlineb16_ESO133

WTF "Also, please be aware that these temporary access codes expire after 10 minutes".

I use mail forwarding. On average the server polls for new mail once every 20 minutes. So it's pure luck if I manage to get a code before it expires?

Dezail

When I went to log into my husbands account, which we're sharing. I got asked to enter the code. My husband was JUST online playing. When I entered in the code that was sent to the e-mail it was "wrong"

phazt

I'm annoyed that this is happening. I logged out for 30 minutes and now have to wait for some e-mail to be sent. It hasn't been sent in the past 20 minutes.

Shanna

I was hoping this was a post about those of us waiting for our box being able to receive temporary access codes in order to play

macope64

I've been playing on the same computer from the same location for days, and for the last 2 or 3 times I've logged out, I cannot get back in. I get the message about the ip address and then I get an email with a code that does not even work. Getting real tired, real fast dealing with this crap. Thirty minutes to get logged back in every time is not going to cut it. Still can't get in right now after logging off for 15 minutes.

jamesharv2005ub17_ESO

elderscrollsonlineb16_ESO133 wrote: »

WTF "Also, please be aware that these temporary access codes expire after 10 minutes".

I use mail forwarding. On average the server polls for new mail once every 20 minutes. So it's pure luck if I manage to get a code before it expires?

Couldnt you just setup a yahoo account or gmail account for the game?

BlessedBySanguine

FrauPerchta wrote: »

Using the same computer on the same ISP I did in last two beta plus the 5 day early access. Today I get blocked from logging in unless I entered the emailed code. This will hopefully not be an EOS habit because it's annoying as .... and I don't play online games to be annoyed

I guess to me it isn't all that annoying. It was just like "ok happens now and then with updates". I don't know how many online games you play but it happens quiet a bit.

macope64

I play several online games as well. But I've never had this much trouble logging in. I currently cannot get in at all, its like I'm stuck in a loop-can't log in, get a code in my email-it doesn't work-wait more than 10 minutes to try again, and guess what? Same thing. It's a little more than annoying when you can't play at all.

waynesrcb14_ESO

I spent over $100 on a preorder so I don't get to play at all until the 10th. Pathetic.

DBHAShadow

I don't know why, but I never receive emails from you guys. Even back in beta I had to have you guys force activate my account because I never got my registration email. I have added the emails used to my safe list ect, but still no emails, and now with this access code crap I can't even play.

wookiekrisps

I dont understand why we are not receiving the emails in general.
I am going to assume that their SMTP takes longer to actually get the email sent then it does for us to receive it

Axiom187

Where is a code so that I can play while I wait for my Imperial edition to arrive in the real world? 7 days of game time = $3.50 cent pro-rated from monthly subscription amount. Distribution method = email in proof of purchase from retailer purchased from or cross reference early access code as PoP.

On more related note. Google router, login into router as admin (usually login =admin and pass=admin) and set a static IP if you are constantly getting security messages concerning IP or logging in from a "new" machine.

Bulwyf

So this is their way of solving queue issues. I've used the same computer without rebooting our router or modem, same as my wife, and we both keep getting told we're on a new computer every time we log off and come back in the game.

ayethe

would be nice to actually get he damn email

ayethe

i got the email for posting just fine getting the email that lets me log in not so much

Raerd

Unfortunately just got caught with this after a windows update. Over an hour and no emails, no phone call back (I would have phoned even from here in Australia). I can just assume that each time you try to log in it should send an email but after so many tries not a word.

jamesharv2005ub17_ESO

Axiom187 wrote: »

Where is a code so that I can play while I wait for my Imperial edition to arrive in the real world? 7 days of game time = $3.50 cent pro-rated from monthly subscription amount. Distribution method = email in proof of purchase from retailer purchased from or cross reference early access code as PoP.

On more related note. Google router, login into router as admin (usually login =admin and pass=admin) and set a static IP if you are constantly getting security messages concerning IP or logging in from a "new" machine.

You cannot force your ISP to give you a static IP. All your suggestion does is make your home pc have a static IP to the router. The router will still show your ISP IP to ESO. So it would simply be pointless to do what you suggest.

Thaladar

Update. Finally got the email, but it took almost 10 minutes to receive. With a 10-minute validity, this seems like a bad scenario that should be rethought.

mavenmills

Readers: Please understand that they probably aren't telling you how they record which Devices have been Authorized in the past due to higher level security reasons that are of more import than some consumer's curiousity.

Once someone figures it out (or is told how it works) then it is just another facet of 'code' that can be used to exploit the system - I.e. someone could work on imitating your Authorised PC with a non-Authorised PC. In this scenario, the less these morally challenged individuals know, the better for the rest of us.

It is very unlikely that you will be required to do this on a very regular basis, and if results that a lot of people are being asked to do it on a regular basis, then I am sure they will update their checking mechanism to try and reduce the occurrence. Also note, that in most cases, this isn't stopping you from playing the game which is the most critical requirement - so the priority of this has to fall below other issues with worse consequences for the user (for example; can not log in at all).

If anything, they are being over cautious to attempt to protect what you all cherish so dearly - your Phat Lewtz - OR they are merely doing an update which 'resets' the status of all previously Authorized devices. Because it is so soon after release, and other behind-the-scenes fixes, you may just be experiencing what I like to call the 'Perfect Storm' scenario in the I.T. industry.

Also, please note: in the world of E-mail, you must understand that not everything happens immediately, particularly with Mail Servers. You may expect that e-mail immediately, but there are processes going on in the background that may delay this.

I hope that I helped explain this to some users.

Stu

ddurango

mavenmills wrote: »

Readers: Please understand that they probably aren't telling you how they record which Devices have been Authorized in the past due to higher level security reasons that are of more import than some consumer's curiousity.

Which is simply security through obscurity and has been repeatedly proven not to work.

It is very unlikely that you will be required to do this on a very regular basis, and if results that a lot of people are being asked to do it on a regular basis, then I am sure they will update their checking mechanism to try and reduce the occurrence. Also note, that in most cases, this isn't stopping you from playing the game which is the most critical requirement - so the priority of this has to fall below other issues with worse consequences for the user (for example; can not log in at all).

The whole system is obviously broken somewhere. Log out to restart client and log back in, access code required. An access code that never arrives even though any other email from ZOS arrives just fine and basically instantly.

And in many cases, it very much is stopping people from playing the game.

If anything, they are being over cautious to attempt to protect what you all cherish so dearly - your Phat Lewtz - OR they are merely doing an update which 'resets' the status of all previously Authorized devices. Because it is so soon after release, and other behind-the-scenes fixes, you may just be experiencing what I like to call the 'Perfect Storm' scenario in the I.T. industry.

If they actually wanted to protect our accounts they would do what people who actually care about security do and rely on authenticators (physical and virtual). Using email for authentication is merely a false sense of security. Email is pretty much the least secure communication mechanism in the world. Sending open plain text into the ether that will change hands multiples of times and can be easily read or social engineered by tens to hundreds to thousands of people isn't exactly security.

Also, please note: in the world of E-mail, you must understand that not everything happens immediately, particularly with Mail Servers. You may expect that e-mail immediately, but there are processes going on in the background that may delay this.

I get emails from this very forum in under 10s. There are numerous reports of people waiting 10-20-infinity minutes. The system is fubar.